Perched high above on a scouting overhang it didn't take me long to notice a pair of desert folk striking hoof outside my land. Sunkissed pinions unfurl and fill with cool northern air as a son of heaven trustingly places fate to the caress of Helovia's most unpredictable lover. Fina plunges ahead of me, with an alabaster shadow trailing close behind. Those two (very) different sisters had formed a rather tight bond despite their colliding personalities.

Once I'm close enough to be seen and heard, a welcoming smile slips upon both shallow tips -- my delight is evident, even before I've touched down, "Hail brethren," the heavy rhythm of windbeats in a backstroke is drowned by the sheer force of wet thunder. Fina chortles a prudish greeting and Neve answers with a gleeful (out of tune) chirp. I land a comfortable distance from the Dragon governors as both companions take their accustomed place across my ivory kissed rear.

Below, a noticeable flash of color spreads in the wake of each firm step, it glides passively into the moist turf before disappearing to start anew. "Is all well?" Traces of concern slide into my tone, though tis practiced study to see that neither of them appeared weary or otherwise strained from travel. Guacho for whatever reason had brought his dark skinned chancellor; the one who could pass as my son by appearance. A fellow was often stalking the undercoat of Threshold. Bottomless gaze slides expectantly between the two before settling on the bulk of a man I'd spent battle blood with.

Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold

Well, her children became independent rather quickly. They were off running around God knows where, so really, the only child she was raising was Edgar. The little thing just would not leave her alone, and he liked to tangle himself in her mane all the time. That was his "sleep" as he called it. It was like he owned her. She had enough of the antics though, and sent him off into the world of Helovia. He could explore a while why she attended to whatever business she would have to do today.

It was like roulette everyday, regarding her job of course. Either she was to craft, feed children, or go to the Threshold. The first one was the much preferred, and the latter two falling in near equal place. It wasn't long though before Edgar pushed his way back into her thoughts again, demanding her attention. He kept telling him there was some flaming weird stallion, and a yellow speckled pegasus. Oddly, the two descriptions seemed rather familiar. Midas was there too, apparently. Maybe he was in need of some sort of help. Considering if the speckled one was the one she thinking it to be. So annoying that the one encounter pissed her off so much as to automatically turn her bitter. Ah well, one must do their duty.

She walked along, plodding over to where they were. She was in no hurry to interrupt them. Surely Midas had some important leader business or something to say before she should poke in. So she stepped closer to the group once she had heard his faint voice die down. Upon looking at the two, she was right, they were both exactly who she thought they were. Gaucho was the one that was like friends with Oxy or something. He had that weird fire power that she was weary of, but in a sense was jealous of it. The other was Bucephalus, who was still stuck in her mind as nothing more than what she had met him as. And under those circumstances, it was not a good one.

"Gaucho." She said with a polite bow, curling her head down wards and bending forward. It was only polite to do so. It was a weird habit of hers, in the presence of power it was a habit she knew she'd never shake. "Bucephalus." She said, dipping her head down a little. She stepped back then, allowing Midas to speak. She was here merely for support, unless they needed something of the crafters. That would be exciting, considering any project was a fun one at this point. She had a little spark in her, because she believed to have heard that Gaucho was in need of an item. She still had been a little to far away to catch his words, but she wanted to ask. "You needed a crafter?" She queried, a few moments after she had fallen to stand a little behind Midas. It was evident that there was some excitement and amusement in her voice. What? She was a nerd, she liked building things.

"Talking"

Elsa

Guacho speaks without break and with smooth transition. Despite our native tongue not being his first language, the fellow had over passing years developed a strong framework by which to operate passable diplomacy. I nod toward the gilden fellow in his company. Both brows drift together when he mentioned his pale colead and mate on absence for her academy. Word had traveled down the grapeline that yet more death had been reaped in the wild -- yar, I made note to say a silent prayer for her safe return.

The intent on this visit however isn't one of a personal nature. He asks for aid in a task set to him by the Sun, wordless I nod again and glance to the entrance behind us to see Elsa descending the stone stairway. Yar, perfect timing. She steps toward our gathering with eyes brimming toward curiosity. "Aye," my lips curve, adding voice to Bucephalus, "Would ye use thee talent to form a stone representing a depiction of the sun?" She was on the mend from birthing twins into this world, but I felt certain this task would be well within her abilities.

Speaking of.

Did Oxy fancy watching his children? They didn't appear to be in the company of Elsa, nor had enough time passed for the little sprouts to trail off alone. Neve was all but hopping up and down on my spine with anticipation, she clinched and unclenched her talons gently against my fur. An excited squeak followed in an attempt at capturing the frost born companions attention.

Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold

The more she stood there, the more uncomfortable she was with the testosterone. It'd be nice to have a female walking around and greeting others for a change. So many men, although she had grown used to it over the time she spent here. Midas being there was some sort of relief, but the other two were still merely acquaintances at best. Even Midas wasn't exactly her BFF.

She listened intently as the spoke, all agreeing that they were in need of a sun stone. Odd, why would they need that? The question lingered on her tongue but it eventually faded into the back of her mind. It wasn't her business anyways. Midas had asked a favor of her, so she'd do it. She trusted him at least that much.

Bowing for a moment she excused herself over to a boulder no more than a few yards off. It wasn't small, so she knew that cracking off a more workable piece of stone would be the best. The ice snaked up from the ground underneath a corner of the boulder. It creaked and scraped, but suddenly the force of the ice shattered through the boulder, leaving a small portion of it for Elsa to work with. Hopefully the sound didn't interrupt their talk. A sun was simple enough. Thus, the crafting began. It wasn't long until a smooth circular stone was lain out before her. The edges and malformations crushed up to dust around it. Carefully, she began to little detailing. The center bulged slightly out, like a bubble. The center of the sun. The rest was thin, and a little more was cut away until five rays were situated around it. Sure it wasn't as intricate as what she would've like to have done, but now was not the time to spend years on a small request.

Picking up the rock gently in her mouth, she brought it back over, laying it in front of Bucephalus and Gaucho. Hopefully they were okay with it. She was willing to do alterations, because it wasn't often others outside of the herd requested herself. It was a fantastic break from building the bleak frames of rooms and cells. "Will this suffice?" She asked tentatively looking between Gaucho and Bucephalus, then finally to Midas. Had she done okay?

"Talking"

Elsa

The Sultan confirms their need; politely my mason stepped aside to fashion what they required. I watched the young mother trail off, admiration and appreciation gentled the hard worry lines on my face. Tis refreshing to see someone take time out of a busy day to accomplish a selfless task. Neve uses this momentary lapse in our conversation to chatter anxiously, attempting to catch the frosty eye of Elsa's male companion.

My brother broaches a question, aye. "We are fine," a reply that would've been less formal had we meet without so many unneeded ears close at hoof. "Birdsong brings new life," I turn to them, abandoning our crafter to complete her job without prying eyes hovering, "The warmth ushers us young additions," tis well known that the desert stag was no stranger to children, "yar, but even as life is given, some is taken." Tone is soft to mask the sharp pinch that constricts my heart, "We suffered a loss," the pink folds of my throat tighten, I try swallowing that sudden dryness away, "Seele died."

Thankfully I wouldn't have to dwell long before Elsa returned with a sunstone. She looked to me for approval, dark crown dipped into a passive nod but my attention is already sweeping the expressions of our company for a reaction of satisfaction or discontent. The chancellor seems pleased, he tucks the item away. Bottomless gems soften, "Thank ye, Elsa." I turn to her for a moment, offering the pale one a kind smile. Perhaps the most genuine one I'm capable of giving. Glancing toward Guacho I add, "Has Satanic Silk returned to the desert?" If so, he should have reported Africa's whereabouts.

Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold

His condolence is well received. I'd expected for a moment that Guacho might share further details on Silk, but the man was short on words and otherwise distracted. I didn't press the topic further, and he didn't offer anything more. A simple, but warm smile teased these dark lips up as he shifted to leave my home and finish what his patron lord demanded.

There would be time for idle chatter later. Eventually we would meet without the pressing need of dictatorship weighing our words and actions. One day we would stand as brothers of the sand, absent the embellishment of titles. Because, before we ruled these lands, our lives had been humble -- placed low before other leaders. The world had moved on since then. Kri, my mentor and various others. What would she say if that stout lady could see the children of her home grown to run the world for all their worth? Would she be disappointed?

The number of my days had been extended beyond comprehension. Perhaps I'd live to see Kri again, if she'd not already passed on.

"Better get accustomed to death," the suddenness of her words and intention startles me into glancing back to a set of pools that bore into me with more wisdom than I'd ever seen upon them before. "We will see much of it." Tis truth, but that didn't mean I wanted to hear it. "So says ye." I uttered shortly, Fina stiffened and clicked her beak, "So says ye also, if thee mind is still of value."

Some legends are told
Some turn to dust or to gold